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Don’t Be a Statistic: How to Avoid Accidents due to DUI

There’s a reason driving instructors stress the importance of defensive driving. It minimizes the possibility of accidents and it makes for more responsible drivers. According to the Association for Safe International Road Travel, an estimated 1.3 million people around the world die each year due to vehicular crashes. Approximately 50 million more suffer injuries or disability.

One of the most common reasons behind such accidents is drunk driving. Despite constant reminders about the dangers of driving while intoxicated there are people who still choose to ignore them. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates $44 billion is lost to alcohol-related car accidents every year.

If you are out and have one or two drinks with friends, here are some ways to stay safe and avoid becoming a statistic.

Don’t underestimate the danger, don’t drive

If you drink, don’t drive. Ask a friend who isn’t drinking to drive you home. You can also spend the night at your friend’s house if that’s where you’ve been drinking. Even if you drink coffee right after a bout with liquor, your judgment will not recover fully enough to keep you safe on the road. Calling for a cab may not always be a good idea, but if you’re not too drunk, it’s definitely safer than driving.

Limit yourself

This mostly depends on how much alcohol you can tolerate. For example, if one bottle of beer gets you tipsy, just follow the first advice above. If it hardly has any effect on your ability to function normally, then follow your best judgment. Remember, however, that you may still get stopped by a police officer and asked to submit to a Breathalyzer test. In such cases, it’s best to know some DUI lawyers in Springfield, Illinois; they can instruct you on what you should do if you are ever stopped.

In case you get sleepy on the road…

Sometimes the alcohol hits you when you’re well on your way, causing you to become drowsy. If this happens, find a safe place to park (where police won’t get suspicious). Find a well-lit gas station to get coffee if you’re only a few minutes away from home, or a motel where you can sleep it off.

These may not apply to everyone because different people have different reactions to alcohol. The safest thing you can do is to avoid drinking altogether when you still have to drive.